A Message from the Principal

We have some work to do!  Our students’ enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes is less than it should be.  This is a concern for some of the reasons discussed below, but the faculty and administrators of Upper Arlington High School are in the process of making significant changes in the AP and IB programs to make enrollment in advanced classes more enticing.

The purpose of my writing is to create a discussion about your son’s or daughter’s choice of classes in high school.  I am concerned that some of our students are not doing enough to challenge themselves academically while in high school and as a result are not preparing themselves for learning beyond graduation.  More specifically, I believe more of our students can and should challenge themselves academically at higher levels by taking more Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes.

Perhaps not all students should take advanced classes, but the rigor of these classes helps them handle the challenges of college.  I see no better way to prepare for college than taking at least one or two college level classes while in high school.  While this can be challenging, the exposure to college rigor during high school has many benefits.  As high school students they still have the support and encouragement of their families and academic help from caring teachers.  In addition, taking AP and IB classes often helps students in the college admissions process because colleges want to admit students who have challenged themselves at higher levels.

Some students do not take more rigorous classes because they are concerned about their grade point average.  However, all of these courses earn students a weighted grade and, as I stated before, they help prepare students for learning beyond high school.

In addition, the college admissions process is changing and AP and IB courses can be a factor.  For example, we have received anecdotal information that students with over a 3.0 grade point average and a score of 30 on the ACT (which is the 96th percentile) have not been admitted to the more select state universities.  The reason being that the students had not challenged themselves by taking some rigorous courses such as AP and IB classes.  AP and IB classes help prepare them for college and help them stand out in the admissions process.  The extra work required can pay huge dividends in the future.

Please use this message as a point of conversation with your son or daughter during their selection of classes for next year.  And as always, our teachers, counselors and administrators will be glad to share their ideas and assist you in this process.  Please call or e-mail us.  We will keep you informed of the changes we will be making to further encourage students’ enrollment in advanced classes.

Kip Greenhill

Principal